A History of Modern Psychology

History doesn't have to be dull, and this text is living proof with coverage of interesting topics ranging from the controversial use of IQ tests at Ellis Island to the psychodynamics of gum chewing. A market leader for over 30 years, A HISTORY OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY has been praised for its comprehensive coverage and biographical approach. Focusing on modern psychology, the book's coverage begins with the late 19th century. Successfully avoiding dry narrative, the authors personalize the history of psychology not only by using biographical information on influential theorists, but also by showing you how major events in those theorists' lives have affected the authors' own ideas, approaches, and methods. Substantial updates in this edition include discussions of evolutionary psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and positive psychology. The result is a book that is as timely and relevant today as it was when it was first introduced.

Customer Reviews:

I use this as a text for my History of Modern Psych class

By Craig Chalquist, PhD, author of TERRAPSYCHOLO... - January 25, 2007

I teach an undergrad course on the history of psychology (Sonoma State), and I've found this book to be clear and readable. My students tend to like it and find the pleasantly informative tone and highlighted information to be useful. This book has gone through several editions as the authors build in updates. They do a fine job of making what is usually very dry material accessible to students. A recent inclusion discusses evolutionary psychology. InfoTrak allows students to look up information online, and the book is filled with useful web sites for further study. Some of the misconceptions about Freud have been corrected (e.g., the false story about Breuer running away from Anna O), although the role of Pierre Janet in the development of a fully dynamic psychology has remained largely unexplored since Ellenberger's work in the seventies.

Two suggestions for future editions: 1. Include more from the therapy side of the psychological house. The book is heavily weighted... read more

Adequate, yet not overbearing summation of modern psychology

By A Customer - July 6, 1999

Schultz and Schultz offer a wonderful summation of the history of psychology. Many history of psychology texts are large and burdensome, but Schultz and Schultz sift out the waste and offer the facts. Interesting anecdotes about psychology's pioneers are offered, and the social climate surrounding the perspectives of each school of thought is also mentioned. All in all, this is a great book to have in the collection for the average historian of psychology. The authors, unfortunately, do present the information in a rather bland display. More color and layout effect would be useful and appealing. Furthermore, the chapter on the impact of women and minorities in psychology should not just be thrown on the end of the book ... it should be integrated throughout. Other than those two drawbacks, however, the book is wonderfully done.

Nice Overview of Psychology's Past, Present, and Future

By Marleah J. Augustine "habitual reader" - December 16, 2005

This book was used for one of my classes this past fall. It is very readable, and all of the names that you learn in psych classes actually become people, characters in the development of this ever-broadening field. I thought it was a great start to get psychology students more interested in the people who came before them.